Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court is the story about a man of the nineteenth century, trying to survive in the sixth century. It is considered one the first steampunk stories. Steampunk being a science fiction sub-genre characterized by new technology in an old culture.
The story begins with Hank, an arms factory superintendent from Connecticut, being transported to the sixth century. While there, he begins to add nineteenth century technology and ideas into the culture. His main struggle throughout the book is to make the time period he is stuck in more like his intellectual, logic-driven nineteenth century, without alarming the people or the Church. In the end, the Church wins and his technology is removed, and Merlin, who was previously assumed to be a quack-magician, casts a spell to make him sleep for thirteen centuries.
Much of the humor in this story is concerned with the stereotypical gullible attitude shared by the people of the 6th century. The book describes them as nothing more than children, who don't truly understand what is going on in the world. The struggle is with Hank trying to get rid of the irrationality of the people in the dark ages, and replace it with the logic prominent in his own time. This shows that in durning the second industrial revolution, people began to think more logically, and with less superstition. Science began to be held in higher regard than religion. This is shown in Twain himself, who loved science, and was, in fact, a good friend of Nikola Tesla. He also had several arguments with religion.
Setting
In A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court setting is incredibly important. The story takes place in the sixth century. The attitudes of people are very different then what Hank is used to in the nineteenth century. When he goes back in time he uses the knowledge and inginuity in that time period to try to better the lives of people in the sixth century. If Hank was from any other time period he wouldn't have been able to make some of the changes that he made.
In the sixth century the people were very supersticious and fearful of magic. Merlin was the head magician at the time; until Hank came and tricked the people into believeing that he was an even greater magician by blakcing out the sun. Out of astonishment and amaze Hank is made King Arthur's second in command; he is known through the rest of the story as The Boss. If the people were less supersticious and afraid of magic or if this had taken place later in time they would have been more knowledgeable of Astronomy and would not have fallen for the trick. Hank realizes that the people in this time are child like in their understanding of how things work and happen.
The Boss in an effort to modernize the sixth century creates a patent office at the tournament and strings lines for telegraphs and telephone through the area. The telephones and telegraphs will come in handy later on in the story because it helps The Boss stay in touch and know what is happening in Camelot.
Unfortunately even with all of the new advances that The Boss made in the sixth century their lives seemed unchanged. In the end Sir Lancelot will use the stock market that The Boss created to turn the knoights against The Boss and King Arthur. Seeing this The Boss and Clarence run off to a cave. After fighting with the nights The Boss is stabbed and Merlin slips into the cave disguised as an old woman. Merlin then puts a spell on The Boss to sleep for 1300 years. When Hank wakes back up he is in the 19th century again.
The story begins with Hank, an arms factory superintendent from Connecticut, being transported to the sixth century. While there, he begins to add nineteenth century technology and ideas into the culture. His main struggle throughout the book is to make the time period he is stuck in more like his intellectual, logic-driven nineteenth century, without alarming the people or the Church. In the end, the Church wins and his technology is removed, and Merlin, who was previously assumed to be a quack-magician, casts a spell to make him sleep for thirteen centuries.
Much of the humor in this story is concerned with the stereotypical gullible attitude shared by the people of the 6th century. The book describes them as nothing more than children, who don't truly understand what is going on in the world. The struggle is with Hank trying to get rid of the irrationality of the people in the dark ages, and replace it with the logic prominent in his own time. This shows that in durning the second industrial revolution, people began to think more logically, and with less superstition. Science began to be held in higher regard than religion. This is shown in Twain himself, who loved science, and was, in fact, a good friend of Nikola Tesla. He also had several arguments with religion.
Setting
In A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court setting is incredibly important. The story takes place in the sixth century. The attitudes of people are very different then what Hank is used to in the nineteenth century. When he goes back in time he uses the knowledge and inginuity in that time period to try to better the lives of people in the sixth century. If Hank was from any other time period he wouldn't have been able to make some of the changes that he made.
In the sixth century the people were very supersticious and fearful of magic. Merlin was the head magician at the time; until Hank came and tricked the people into believeing that he was an even greater magician by blakcing out the sun. Out of astonishment and amaze Hank is made King Arthur's second in command; he is known through the rest of the story as The Boss. If the people were less supersticious and afraid of magic or if this had taken place later in time they would have been more knowledgeable of Astronomy and would not have fallen for the trick. Hank realizes that the people in this time are child like in their understanding of how things work and happen.
The Boss in an effort to modernize the sixth century creates a patent office at the tournament and strings lines for telegraphs and telephone through the area. The telephones and telegraphs will come in handy later on in the story because it helps The Boss stay in touch and know what is happening in Camelot.
Unfortunately even with all of the new advances that The Boss made in the sixth century their lives seemed unchanged. In the end Sir Lancelot will use the stock market that The Boss created to turn the knoights against The Boss and King Arthur. Seeing this The Boss and Clarence run off to a cave. After fighting with the nights The Boss is stabbed and Merlin slips into the cave disguised as an old woman. Merlin then puts a spell on The Boss to sleep for 1300 years. When Hank wakes back up he is in the 19th century again.